PETALING JAYA, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- New year, new mission.
Former world champion Muhammad Rafiq Ismail is all fired up to kick off the 2025 season with a bang as he sets his sights on top honours at the 2025 World Cup in Kowloon, Hong Kong, from Jan 5-14.
The 27-year-old is looking forward to not only ending Malaysia’s 13-year title drought in the men’s singles but also making amends for his quarter-final exit in the previous edition.
“The World Cup is one of the tournaments I want to win. My best achievement is a fourth-place finish in 2015.
“In the last edition (2022) in Australia, I lost in the quarter-finals but I hope to at least make the podium this time,” he told Bernama when met during a training session here today.
In the last edition, Muhammad Rafiq lost 1-2 to compatriot Timmy Tan, and the team event ended on a similar note with a 2-3 loss to the Philippines.
Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek was the first and only Malaysian to taste success in the World Cup when he triumphed at the 2012 edition in Wroclaw, Poland.
However, Muhammad Rafiq will thread with caution about the challenges posed by teams from the United States and Singapore at the newly built 40-lane bowling alley at Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon.
The top Asian kegler said the upcoming World Cup is a chance to continue his momentum after a sensational performance at the 2024 Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships (ATBC) in Bangkok last September.
The Selangor-born won the men's singles, trios (with Hafiz Zainuddin and Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek), all-events and masters titles.
“2024 is one of the most memorable years for me as apart from excelling at ATBC, I also maintained my Asian ranking (for the fourth consecutive year),” he said.
Muhammad Rafiq also believed that winning the World Cup would give him a significant confidence boost in his quest to reclaim the world title he won in 2018. The world championship will also be held in Kowloon next November.
Apart from Muhammad Rafiq, Malaysia’s bowling team for the Hong Kong meet includes Timmy Tan, Tun Hakim Tun Hasnul Azam and Ahmad Muaz Mohd Fishol.
The women’s team will be led by Asia's number one bowler Sin Li Jane, alongside reigning world champion Natasha Mohamed Roslan, Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman and Gillian Lim.
National team manager Maradona Chok is optimistic that the experienced bowlers will shine and deliver medals in Hong Kong.
“There are many strong teams, and we are among them. So, our chances of winning are just as good as the others,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
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